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Gary Neville critical of Man United’s handling of Greenwood investigation
Gary Neville says Manchester United’s handling of the Mason Greenwood investigation has been “pretty horrible” and lacked strong leadership.
Greenwood, 21, will leave the club by mutual agreement after a six-month internal investigation.
It came after charges against the player, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February.
“It was clear from day one that he wouldn’t play for Manchester United again,” said former defender Neville.
Speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football, Neville, 48, who made 602 appearances for United, added: “The process in getting there has been pretty horrible. When you have significant situations, and difficult situations like this, it requires strong authoritative leadership. And that comes from the very top. Manchester United don’t have that.”
Fellow pundit and former England midfielder Karen Carney said the matter was “handled poorly” and it was a “really uneasy situation for me”.
England international Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 following allegations surrounding material which was published online.
In a statement, Greenwood accepted he had “made mistakes” and took his “share of responsibility”, but added: “I did not do the things I was accused of.”
United have said “based on the evidence available to us, we have concluded that the material posted online did not provide a full picture and that Mason did not commit the offences in respect of which he was originally charged”, adding: “All those involved, including Mason, recognise the difficulties with him recommencing his career at Manchester United.”
An announcement of the investigation’s results was expected before United’s opening Premier League game of the season against Wolves on 14 August, but the decision was delayed amid fierce debate about Greenwood’s potential reintegration at Old Trafford.
The club said they wanted to consult with their women’s team, some of whom were part of England’s World Cup squad playing in Australia, before announcing a decision about Greenwood’s future.
In an open letter to United supporters on Monday chief executive Richard Arnold said the club had “limited powers of investigation” and “were reliant on third-party co-operation” as they “sought to collate as much evidence as possible to establish facts and context”.
He added: “Reintegration was one of the outcomes we considered and planned for. For context, over the course of the past six months several outcomes have been contemplated and planned for, and my view has evolved as our process progressed.”
Carney, 36, who chaired a major review into the women’s game, added: “I think Manchester United as an institution, as football club and what is stands for, has handled this really really poorly.
“I think from statements that have been confusing and conflicting to everybody. From leaks. From involving stakeholders unnecessarily. I.e. female players, our Lionesses.”
‘It should have been dealt with independently’
Greenwood’s potential return prompted a group of female United supporters to protest outside Old Trafford before the Wolves game on 14 August, and said they wanted the club to “demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach” towards violence against women.
Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return put out a lengthy statement to say the striker’s reintegration would tell them “as women, that we don’t matter”.
Greenwood’s contract at Old Trafford runs until 2025, and he could now be sold or loaned to another club for the remainder of his deal. He remains on full pay but will not return to training with United.
Neville also claimed United should not have been in the situation where the were presiding over a matter where they did not possess the requisite experience, and called for the introduction of an independent panel for the future.
“On an issue like domestic abuse, on violence against women, there needs to be independence,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be that Manchester United are the judge and jury on such a significant issue. Not just for themselves, but also for the game. People talk about the reputation of Manchester United but it’s the Premier League here as well.
“My view is that on issues of this importance, and severity, they should be dealt with independently by a panel.
“It’s been clear that Manchester United have not had the skill and ability to deal with this situation properly. It’s been well above their grade of experience and ability.”
Sports lawyer Chris Farnell told BBC News: “Manchester United are damned if they did, and damned if they don’t.
“If they had done a quick analysis they would be told it should be more in depth. Because it’s been in depth it’s ‘taken too long’.
“I think the important thing is you have to look into the conclusions Manchester United have to come to and reasons behind it.”
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Let’s reintroduce Cultural Studies to complement educational reforms — Tourism Minister
Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has emphasised the importance of reintroducing Cultural Studies in schools as part of Ghana’s broader educational reform agenda.
She said Cultural Studies would complement existing efforts to reposition Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to promote digital literacy and expand Creative Arts education.
Speaking at the 2025 Homowo Festival of the people of Ningo-Prampram, held on the theme: “Education: The Best Legacy for our Children,” Madam Gomashie said cultural education was critical to national identity and development.
She noted that the festival’s theme aligned with the Government’s vision to transform education in Ghana and encouraged the youth to embrace it not only as a means of personal development but also as a way of preserving traditional values.
These values, including patience, wisdom, and hard work, were at the core of the Homowo celebration, the Minister said.
“Cultural festivals like Homowo are vital instruments for strengthening cultural identity, preserving historical memory, and fostering national unity. Additionally, festivals serve as platforms for educating the youth through storytelling, music, dance, and other traditional practices, while also providing opportunities for community engagement.”
Madam Gomashie highlighted the strong foundation that Ghana’s tourism was built on, which included culture, traditions, and the creative industry, collectively contributing to over GH¢4.8 billion to the economy.
“Festivals give tourists reasons to visit our country. Therefore, with the right infrastructure and the development of all the domains, the sector can do more than what has been recorded,” she added.
Mr Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation, commended the community for their vibrant participation in the festival. He announced plans for the construction of a new nursing training school in Ningo, aimed at expanding access to healthcare education in the area.
Nene Osroagbo Djangmah XII, Paramount Chief of Great Ningo Traditional Area; King Dr Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse; Nene Tetteh Wakah III, Paramount Chief of the Prampram Traditional Area; Prof. Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of the Nungua Traditional Area; Naana Dugbakuwor Dugba II, Paramount Queen Mother of Great Ningo; and Mr. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Special Envoy on Religion and Inter-Faith Affairs, who represented the Chief of Staff, were among dignitaries at the festival. -GNA
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Focus on more pressing issues like Galamsey, not hate speech – Ellen Ama Daaku to Mahama
An aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia,Ellen Ama Daaku has advised President John Dramani Mahama to shift his attention from social media hate speech to more urgent national issues such as illegal mining.
Speaking in an interview, she noted that the President’s recent comments about tracking the IP addresses of people who spread hate speech were unnecessary.
According to her, President Mahama must first define what he considers to be hate speech before seeking to punish people for it.
Ms. Daaku argued that the President himself had benefitted from hate speech and social media attacks in the past when he was in opposition.
She said even during his time in government, he described his opponents and their tribesmen in unpalatable terms, which later drew complaints from former President Nana Akufo-Addo to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
She stressed that harsh criticism of leaders on social media should not automatically be considered hate speech, adding that former leaders, including former President Nana Akufo-Addo had all been subjected to it.
“He is only feeling what Nana Akufo-Addo went through for eight years,” she remarked.
While acknowledging the need to regulate misconduct online, Ms. Daaku insisted that going after social media activists should not be a priority.
She noted that many political activists, including herself, had been insulted and attacked online but never called for arrests.
She concluded that President Mahama should focus his energy on solving pressing problems such as galamsey and the economy instead of concentrating on critics on social media.
By: Jacob Aggrey
